Tallahassee Democrat from Tallahassee, Florida • Page 3

Tallahassee Democrat Sunday, August 31, 1997 3A Death Oi A Piuncess Crash follows clashes of paparazzi, celebrities DIANA'S LIFE Here are significant dates in the life of Diana, Princess of Wales. July 1, 1961: Lady Diana Frances Spencer is born, the daughter of the 8th Earl Spencer. Jl 'Several photographers face charges, and some celebrities have resorted to violence in confrontations. By Michelle DeArmond THE ASSOCIATED PRESS LOS ANGELES The car crash that killed Princess Diana and her companion early today, apparently as they were trailed by paparazzi, follows a series of run-ins between celebrities and those who take pictures for big money. Doctors said the 36-year-old princess died about four hours after the crash that killed her companion, Dodi Fayed, and a chauffeur.

Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife, Maria Shriver, were ambushed May 1 by celebrity photographers and trapped in their Mercedes-Benz between two cars piloted by paparazzi. Two photographers face misdemeanor charges of false imprisonment in connection with the incident. Alec Baldwin and his wife, Kim Basinger, were confronted by a photographer as they brought their newborn daughter home from the hospital. Baldwin scuffled with the photographer, and was acquitted of misdemeanor battery charges in March 1996. Actor George Clooney, upset about a broadcast on his girlfriend, urged a boycott of Paramount Pictures Television Group because of its tabloid TV shows' use of "video paparazzi" footage.

Other celebrities are going to violent extremes as they fight back against the paparazzi. Will Smith and Woody Harrel-son both took swings at tabloid shooters in separate airport incidents. Robert DeNiro battled with a photographer in New York. Still others have maintained a vocal opposition to the paparazzi, including a former publicist for Dodi Fayed, Diana's boyfriend. Fayed and Diana's chauffeur died in the crash that happened shortly after midnight in a tunnel along the Seine River at the Pont de l'Alma bridge.

French media reported a highspeed pursuit preceded the crash that trapped several people in a pileup. Fayed's former publicist, Michael Levine, said, "I've been very loud and passionate in my denunciation of this paparazzi hysteria, they have gone so far." The Associated Press Princess Diana and Prince Charles were married July 29, 1981 on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. July 29, 1981: Married Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne, at St. Paul's Cathedral, while millions watched the "fairy tale wedding." He is 1 2 years her senior. June 21, 1982: Prince William Arthur Philip Louis born.

Sept. 15, 1984: Prince Harry (Henry Charles Albert David) born. The demolished Mercedes Benz in which Princess Diana and her companion, Dodi Fayed, were riding is taken away under the guidance of Paris police. The crash happened shortly after midnight in a tunnel along the Seine River. Iff" ViffWft.

i- (til'' I -t: a JEROME DELAYfThe Associated Press i mm Actor decries press tactics Tom Cruise calls for laws against harassment by paparazzi photographers. 1 4 ALISTAIR GRANTThe Associated Press Princess Diana, her sons Prince Harry and Prince William, and Prince Charles watch a veteran's parade during the 50th anniversary of VJ Day celebrations in London in 1995. June 1 5, 1 992: After months of speculation about the state of the royal marriage, Andrew Morton's book "Diana: Her True Story" says Charles has had a longtime affair with a married woman, Camilla Parker Bowles, driving Diana to injure herself and attempt suicide. Aug. 25, 1992: The Sun newspaper prints transcript oi phone call monitored in December 1989 between Diana and a man who affectionately calls her "Squidgy." Dec.

9, 1992: Prime Minister John Major announces to Parliament that Diana and Charles are separating but there are no plans for divorce. Jan. 12, 1993: The Sun publishes transcript of intimate phone call said to be between Camilla and Charles, reportedly monitored December 1 989. June 29, 1994: In a TV documentary, Charles says he had committed adultery after the marriage broke down, "us both having tried." Oct. 3, 1994: Anna Pasternak's book "Princess in Love" says Diana had five-year affair with her riding instructor James Hewitt.

Nov. 20, 1995: In a television interview, Diana admits adultery with Hewitt. August 1995: Reports link Diana and rugby star Will Carling. Carling and wife separate Sept. 29.

December 1995: Charles receives letter from Queen Elizabeth II urging divorce, and he agrees. Feb. 28, 1996: Diana agrees to divorce. Aug. 28, 1996: Final decree of divorce Aug.

31, 1997: Diana killed in Paris automobile accident. Her companion, Dodi Fayed, also is killed. GAEL CORNIERThe Associated Press Police block the tunnel along the Seine River where Princess Diana was involved in a fatal crash. SaStSt VJW DIANA: The crash followed a high-speed pursuit by photographers From 1A it i "'-'i; felt By Dave Bauder THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK Film star Tom Cruise called CNN to denounce paparazzi photographers after a car crash in Paris early today killed Princess Diana. Cruise was reacting to early reports that Diana and her companion, Dodi Fayed, were being trailed by photographers after leaving a restaurant when the accident happened.

Fayed and a chauffeur were also killed in the wreck. "When you're pursuing or chasing, that's harassment," Cruise said, citing his own experiences being trailed by photographers. His interview came as TV networks scrambled to react to the breaking story at a time they were probably least prepared a Satur-day night on a Labor Day weekend ABC, CNN and NBC all had word of Diana's death simultaneously at 11:50 p.m. EDT. CBS lagged behind the other networks.

CNN and ABC spent the most time pursuing reports in the first few hours after the crash. Anchor Brian Williams rushed in to take over coverage for NBC- CNN was apparently the victim of a hoax by someone claiming to have been an eyewitness to the crash. The man claimed he saw an injured Fayed after the crash and that he was upset. When asked by CNN's Linden Soles how he felt, the caller yelled into the phone in a high-pitched squeal and hung up. The cable network also interviewed a spokeswoman for the Globe who defended the practice of paying photographers for pictures of celebrities.

She would not say whether the supermarket tabloid would pay for photos of Diana's accident scene. Steve Coz, editor of the National Enquirer, told CNN his publication would not purchase any such paparazzi photos of today's crash in an effort "to send a message." Cruise called for laws to control the paparazzi and denounced the practice of paying for celebrity photos. The interview came to CNN when the actor's personal assistant called the network, switchboard operator Scott Lynch said. Cruise, who was interviewed before word of Diana's death, said he understood her frustration in dealing with ever-present photographers and that he had tried different strategies in dealing with them. "You try to appeal to their sense of decency and morality, but it can be very trying," he said.

ti-d" FRANCOIS MORimie Associated Press ning towards us telling us to go." Luz said: "The horn was sounding for about two minutes. I think it was the driver against the steering wheel." British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who was awakened with news of the accident, said he was "shocked and saddened" by the "devastating, appalling tragedy," a Downing Street spokesman said. Fayed's and Princess Diana's close friendship became clear to' the outside world over the past five weeks, as the couple took a series of holidays together in the Mediterranean. Newspapers reported Diana first met Fayed almost 10 years ago when he and Prince Charles played polo on opposing teams. Films he has produced or co-produced include the 1981 Oscar-winning "Chariots of Fire," "The World According to Garp," "FX" and "Hook." On Aug.

21, Princess Diana and Fayed flew to the French Mediterranean resort of St. Tropez for their third holiday together in five weeks. Reportedly a multi-millionaire, Fayed had homes in London, New York, Los Angeles and Switzerland as well as a garage full of luxury cars. His 1994 marriage lasted just eight months. Mohamed Al Fayed was a friend of Princess Diana's father, the late Lord Spencer.

In the first week of August, British newspapers speculated that Fayed and Diana were in love. On Aug. 10 a tabloid newspaper published blurred pictures of the couple kissing. Diana and Prince Charles, heir to the British throne, separated in 1992 after 11 years of marriage and divorced last year. Last week, Diana told the French newspaper he Monde that she would have left Britain if it wasn't for her children.

"Any sane person would have left long ago. But I cannot. I have my sons," Diana said in the interview. JOAO SILVERThe Associated Press Princess Diana talks to amputees, earlier this year, at the Neves Bendiha Orthopedic Workshop on the outskirts of Luanda, Angola. Police, above, prepare to take away a motorbike belonging to a paparazzi that was chasing the car that Princess Diana was in when it crashed while, at left, more police guard the hospital to which the princess was taken after the fatal crash.

iffilft-Ht 1 ,1 hi 1 1, i ji. I JACQUES BRINONfThe Associated Press.